Dietary Sugar Research in Preschoolers: Methodological, Genetic, and Cardiometabolic Considerations

Excess dietary sugar intake increases the risk of unhealthy weight gain, an important cardiometabolic factor in children. To further our understanding this relationship, we performed a narrative review using two approaches. First, research examining intake, its associations with health, impact genetics on sweet taste perception and how moderates association factors preschool-aged children 1.5–5 years old is reviewed. Second, methodological considerations for collecting analyzing sugar, genetic information, markers health among young are provided. Our key recommendations include following researchers: (1) Further longitudinal warranted to inform policy decisions guidelines healthy eating (2) Consistency definitions needed across studies aid comparisons results. (3) Select collection tools specific each study’s aim definition(s). (4) Limit subjectivity assessment as impacts interpretation study (5) Choose non-invasive biomarkers disease until strengths limitations available clarified. (6) approaches that account polygenic nature such genome scores wide assess relationship between risk. This highlights potential will support environment help policies reduce